A Listin Diario news commentator reveals that efforts to collect moneys owed to the Banco Agricola, the government agriculture bank, suffered a major blow delivered by the government itself. He said that the Banco Agricola officers who recently celebrated increasing the rate of recovery on loans in arrears to the tune of RD$21 million were surprised when they received a notification from the Administrative Secretary of the Presidency informing them of the passing of Law 56-01 of 30 March. This new law exempts farmers in arrears from the payment of commissions, arrear penalties and 50% of the interest rates. This new law also benefits those who have received loans from the Banco de Reservas, Fondo Fide and other institutions, says Luis Encarnacion in his column in the Listin Diario, "Sondeo." Encarnación says that the old practice of official demagoguery affects the survival of an organization that should be a strong supporter of sustainable agriculture. He said the new measure is a blow as it came when the Banco Agricola officers were recovering the credit of the organization with international institutions and local banking. Officers at the Banco Agricola say they were not consulted and only heard of the new law when notified by the Administrative Secretary of the Presidency.
